Saturday, March 9, 2013

Monk Parakeet

Today I took friends Michael & Melisa Garguilo with me
on a biding trip with the Umpqua Audubon Society. We joined the group at their first
stop, Fords Pond on the East edge of Sutherlin.
While we were all busy watching the likes of Northern Shovelers, Buffleheads,
a Red Shouldered Hawk, and a Northern Harrier, someone noticed on the power
line behind us this Monk Parakeet.
Although a first sighting for most of us in the group, there were a couple
of people that had seen and reported it several weeks ago. As strange as it seems to find this bird in
the wild, there are known populations in Portland and San Francisco. Perhaps this bird just got lost or tired in
route. :)